Meeting new people, seeking new adventures, and experiencing new experiences continue infinitely. I’m searching for a job in a still tough Silicon Valley job market. I’m a versatile worker as an analyst, a reporter, a data manager, and a programmer. Staying busy is easy for me. Boredom kills life motivation. My personal projects are learning Python, reviewing Excel statistics, reviewing VBA, and reviewing databases. Read below for the latest in my life. Random picture on the right. Please activate your browser's JavaScript.

Feb 20, 2018

Job Interviews. I interviewed for a Report Analyst in Mountain View, CA and a CPM Analyst in Redwood City, CA positions. Unfortunately, I got neither jobs. I phone interviewed for a Business Analyst in Sunnyvale, CA and a Sales Operations Analyst in Santa Cruz, CA positions.

Sick. A throat infection affected me on Jan 2018. I was fortunate no medical attention needed. Also, I was fortunate I got more sleep during the initial infection days compared to past throat infections and sinus infections. Extra sleep and taking it easy were important. Zyrtec, milk chocolate, and chocolate milk assisted in my recovery.

Sep 23, 2017

Books. There are more fantasy books I read. Here are the latest books I finished: The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller, The Reader by Bernhard Schlink, The Red Badge Of Courage by Stephen Crane, Blade Runner (Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep) by Philip K. Dick, Slaughter House-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz by L. Frank Baum, i, Robot by Isaac Asimov, Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett, Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson for the second time, Mort by Terry Pratchett, American Gods by Neil Gaiman, The Return Of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Shack by W.M. Paul Young, and Small Gods by Terry Pratchett.

Movies. I realize I have a stronger appreciation watching movies because I relax from the weekday grind. I watched The Accountant, Singles (1992), Sixteen Candles, A Few Good Men, Courage Under Fire, Mississippi Burning, A Fish Called Wanda, Clueless, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, The Revenant (2015), Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Valley Girl, La La Land, Heathers, Hidden Figures, The Thin Red Line, Five Easy Pieces, Rebel Without A Cause, Other People’s Money, Sling Blade, and Hell or High Water.

Hospital Emergency Room. I admitted myself to the emergency room at O’Connor Hospital on Apr 2, 2017. I experienced stomach flu like pains which happened the first time on Mar 5, 2017. The second time stomach flu like pains were severe. I was admitted as an in-patient requiring two surgeries. The first surgery was Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography which removed gallstones. The second surgery was Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy which removed my gallbladder. The doctors diagnosed me with Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis. I was discharged on Apr 6, 2017.

All of the experiences at O’Connor Hospital were firsts such as first time in an emergency room, first time getting an x-ray, first time a hospital in-patient, and first time eating hospital food. The medical emergency was the time to use my lucky moment cards. I was lucky because the emergency room wait time was minimal. My medical tests were completed in a reasonable time. There was no patient-mate three of the four nights. There were a small amount of patients admitted on my floor. The following activities helped pass time: watching local sports; watching classic movies Forrest Gump, A Few Good Men, and The Rock; watching G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra; watching Breaking Bad The Best of Gus Fring marathon; and walks around my floor to keep moving. Thank you O’Connor Hospital for the quality care. Thank you to my parents for providing transportation to and from the hospital.

More First Timers The Little Stuff:

I microwaved oatmeal instead of cooking on the stove.

I ate a Voodoo Doughnut for the first time. My stomach handled the doughnut 13 days after my surgeries.

I also ate a Tastykake cupcake which tasted sweet and lighter than a Hostess cupcake.

I applied tear drops for dry eyes. I had thought eye drops were for red eyes and contact lenses only.

I ate a Ferrero Rocher candy. Delicious and fattening.

More Outdoor Equipment. I purchased an Exped Synmat UL Winter LW sleeping mat. The new sleeping mat is an upgrade.

Congratulations to the Golden State Warriors winning the 2017 NBA Finals.

Board Games. I purchased Forbidden Desert which is similar to Forbidden Island. Also, my Mahjong skills playing Hong Kong and Japanese are improving.

Shirt.Woot 10th Anniversary Sale. I purchased new t-shirts from Woot. These t-shirts are light colors for summer days. I own one light colored t-shirt before the sale. The rest of my t-shirts are dark colors.

Goodbye to another childhood memory. I sold all the MASK toys on eBay my brother and I owned. The toys occupied too much closet space.

Dental Health. My dentist applied resin-compound on my two front upper teeth. The teeth were chipped because I grid my teeth when I sleep. I continue wearing my retainer and my DenTek dental guard alternating every night. Also, I stopped brushing my teeth with the Philips SonicCare. My teeth cleaning got worse. My dentist approved I brush my teeth manually. I use the Waterpik after I dental floss at night.

Job Phone Interview. I interviewed for a 12 month Business Analyst Operations II contract job in San Jose, CA. The workplace is located in their downtown corporate headquarters. The hiring manager rejected all the candidates because I saw the position at job websites one week later.

Mobile Games. I completed all the special missions for the mobile game Bloons Tower Defense (BTD5). I play mobile games between one hour and two hours on weekends only.

Mar 13, 2017

Movies. Here are the good movies and bad movies I watched: The Right Stuff, American Graffiti, Raging Bull, American Gigolo, 10, Fight Club, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, The Imitation Game, Star Trek: Beyond, Home, Bridesmaids, Wreck It Ralph, The Goodbye Girl, Henry & June, The Bridge On The River Kwai, In The Heat Of The Night, Annie Hall, Balls Of Fury, The Black Hole, Moaha, and The Sound Of Music.

Job searching. I phone interviewed with a shipping company affiliated with the USPS and a contract Business Analyst position at Cisco. I interviewed with a medical software company for a contract position. Unfortunately, the medical software company interviewed me for the wrong position.

Kickstarter. I received the Mimoodz color light bulb. I waited months later for the app to change colors. I also received the Luxor 2 Flashlight.

Books. I finished reading All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and Little House On The Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Sick. I was sick with a throat infection in Oct-Nov 2016. I went to an urgent care center on the 10th day of my sickness. The doctor said I was recovering. She suggested I take Zyrtec. Zyrtec is powerful. Also, I threw up on Mar 5, 2017 for which I thought I had the stomach flu. Days followed no symptoms of the stomach flu. I believed it was bloating my digestive system couldn’t handle. My stomach felt like a muscle strain. I have been eating light. I have been exercising light. Or it might have been a 24 hour sickness.

I purchased a Macally car suction phone holder mount. I use my smart phone safely while driving. For example, use my GPS and listen to podcasts.

I brush my teeth with the Philips SonicCare. My parents gave me the electric toothbrush for Christmas.

Minor car problem. The A/C drain was plugged in my car. Water spilled in the passenger front and passenger rear. I vacuumed the water with the wet/vac. I propped the carpet up with wood to air dry. I thank my dad for assistance including removing the passenger side front seat.

Completed. I completed all the maps for the mobile game Bloons Tower Defense (BTD5). I rarely play video games and mobile games. Also, I sold all my eBay auctions which started in Dec 2016. My last item sold three weeks after the rest of my winning items were shipped because the prior winning buyers flaked out.

Mission Peak. One of my cousins from SoCal visited for a personal vacation in Feb 2017. He graduated with a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. One of the places he wanted to visit was Mission Peak. There are green color grass because of the big rain storms in California.

Oct 25, 2016

Two summer vacations. The first vacation was a staycation Thur Aug 4-Sun Aug 7. I took a break from job searching. The highlights were eating at Los Gatos Cafe, KoJa Kitchen, and Ike’s Sandwiches for the first time. I watched two Jack Ryan movies Patriot Games and Clear And Present Danger.

The second vacation was at Zion National Park in Springdale, UT Thur Sep 15-Sun Sep 18. We hiked The Subway Bottom Up. The hike was my most strenuous hike. We also hiked The Narrows Bottom Up from the Temple Of Sinawava to the entrance of Wall Street. We camped at Quail Creek State Park in Hurricane, UT.

New outdoor equipment. I purchased the REI Passage 1 Tent and Chaco Outcross Evo 2 water shoes during the REI Labor Day Sale. The timing was good because I used them for the Zion vacation.

Movies. I watched more movies. They were We’re The Millers, Mallrats, Reality Bites, Money Train, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, Rocky, The Big Lebowski, White Men Can’t Jump, The Lost Boys, Airplane, Flight, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, North By Northwest, The Full Monty, Dawn Of The Dead (1978), The Omega Man (1978), and Shaun Of The Dead.

Kickstarter. I backed the video game 911 Operator. The player is a 911 dispatcher responding to 911 calls. I play the video game after I find a job. I come out of video game retirement temporarily. Also, I received my Cyanide & Happiness Joking Hazard card game.

Books. I finished reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed. I finished the book the evening I arrived home from Zion National Park.

Sunglasses repaired. I own a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses. The right temple broke during my Zion vacation. I purchased another pair of sunglasses at the Visitor’s Center. I must protect my eyes. Maui Jim repairs their broken sunglasses for a fee. Complete the online form and follow their procedures. The total wait time was one week which included shipping.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals. My dad and I watched a Thursday Night Football game at Levi’s Stadium on Oct 6. Thank you cousin Chris for the tickets. I used my Clipper Card for the first time. The Clipper Card is an easy way to pay for public transit in the San Francisco Bay Area. I ate garlic tater tots for the first time.

Two more day hikes. The first hike was Mission Peak in Fremont, CA during Labor Day weekend. I hiked with trekking poles for the first time. I wore my Camelbak backpack for the first time. The second hike was Castle Rock State Park in Los Gatos, CA on Oct 8. The last time I hiked Castle Rock was Feb 2011. There is less green color grass and plants today. I visited Summit Rock for the first time along the Skyline Trial at Sanborn County Park before Castle Rock. I used MapMyHike app for the first time to track my hike.

Jun 29, 2016

I'm job searching. My contract at Palo Alto Networks was satisfied. Finding a job is a challenge. There are weeks I get calls expressing interest. There are weeks I find no positions to apply. I was interviewed face to face four times. I lost count the number of phone interviews after 11. I job search two times a day every weekday. One of my cousins from Los Angeles connected me for consulting jobs.

Job searching is a full time job. I learn new skills and review existing skills when I'm not job searching. I reviewed Excel, PowerPoint, SQL, and SFDC. I also reviewed analysis and statistics. I learned Oracle, Tableau, and VBA. I also learned KPI and dashboards. My current projects are learning Python for the second time, Linux, and web design. The learning and training consists of YouTube videos and books.

Speaking of Python, I installed VirtualBox and Ubuntu to learn Python and Linux. I'm using Sublime Text to write Python and HTML. The new webpage design you're seeing is temporary. I'm learning web design which includes reviewing HTML 4 and learning HTML 5.

I lost 10 pounds in Aug 2015. My workouts have been consistent going to the gym 4-5 days a week. I purchased the Harbinger Pro Wristwrap workout glove to protect my hands. I purchased a P90X 14mm exercise mat for sit-ups at home. I purchased J&D sports smart phone armband to listen to music doing cardio. Under Armor socks are the best. Nike socks are good, too. I either lift weights or cardio cycling on the stationary bike and running on the treadmill. I got sick once with the 24 hour sickness in Dec 2015. I never felt healthier in my entire life.

Movies. I watched The Equalizer, Sleepless In Seattle, School Of Rock, The Expendables 2, Despicable Me, The Last Stand, Blackhat, Interstellar, Zero Dark Thirty, Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance), American Sniper, New In Town, The Five Year Engagement, Clue, Superman Returns, Mercury Rising, Mad Max: Fury Road, Terminator Genisys, Jurassic World, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Spy (2015), Inside Out, A Christmas Story, San Andreas, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I, Star Wars Episode VII, Where Does It Hurt, The Martian, Shawn The Sheep, Taxi Driver, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Deadpool, The Shining, Poltergeist, Apocalypse Now, Norma Rae, The Birds, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Million Dollar Arm, Fifty Shades Of Grey, Shutter Island, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Breaking Away, St. Elmo's Fire, Guardians Of The Galaxy, and Dallas Buyers Club. I also watched The Brain That Changes Itself documentary at Documentary Storm.

CERT. I completed a 21 hour Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training in Campbell, CA on Mar 2015. CERT is a volunteer emergency team deployed in catastrophes. CERT members help professional emergency responders with lower priority disaster calls. CERT members are trained in light search and rescue, first aid, triage, and emergency shelter operations. The CERT training convinced me to purchase the ETON FRX3 emergency crank radio, a portable stretcher in my car, a USB portable battery from Omaker, and respiratory masks. I have participated in CERT drill exercises to keep my skills sharp.

TV. I watch a little television. I finished Burn Notice Season 2 and Season 3. I also watched The X-files six episode special.

Books. I read Couples by John Updike, The Pearl and Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, The Bridge Over The River Kawi by Pierre Boulle, The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell, The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, The Martian by Andy Weir, Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, and 1984 by George Orwell. I also read books on Excel, VBA, Linux, Python, Oracle, Tableau, SFDC, and data analysis.

New podcasts. I started listening to Car Talk reruns, Freakonomics, and Awesome Etiquette in Mar 2015.

Bay Area sports. Congrats to the Golden State Warriors winning the 2015 NBA Finals. I watched a soccer match San Jose Earthquakes vs. Columbus Crew at Avaya Stadium in May 2015 and a football game San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings at Levi's Stadium in Sep 2015 both for the first time. I also watched the 49ers game vs. Seattle Seahawks in Oct 2015.

Hiking and backpacking adventures. I hiked at Mission Peak Regional Park in Fremont, CA for the first time during Labor Day Weekend 2015. I camped at a KOA Camping and backpacked The Narrows Top to Bottom at Zion National Park both in Utah for the first time in Oct 2015. I mixed homemade trail mix consisting of almonds, walnuts, cashews, M&M's, and dried cranberries.

Mahjong. I played Hong Kong Mahjong in Aug 2015 for the first time since 1998. I played a four wind round or tonpeisen Japanese Mahjong (Riichi) for the first time in Dec 2015 and Riichi outdoors for the first time in Jun 2016. My Riichi skills have been getting better. I placed first more times in 2016 than in 2009-2015. I'm getting more good luck.

Halloween 2015 weekend. I came out of anime retirement wearing my Edward Elric from Full Metal Alchemist cosplay to visit a haunted house in the neighborhood. I wore my Haku from Spirited Away to play Riichi.

New smart phone. I purchased the Samsung Galaxy S7 on Mar 2016. It replaced my HTC One M7. I purchased a Sandisk 64GB micro SD card for external memory and a Supcase S7 beltclip to carry my phone when I'm out of the house. I mentioned the sports armband at "lost 10 pounds" above.

The Tech Museum. My parents, brother's family, and I visited The Tech Museum in Downtown San Jose in Apr 2016. The last time I went to the museum was in 2009. The museum expanded with more exhibits.

Mobile games. I play Bloons Tower Defense (BTD5) on my smart phone. I completed the entire beginning levels in Dec 2015. I play during holidays only when BTD5 doubles the coins or doubles the money after I finished the beginning levels.